Bosnian Serb Policeman Seeks Acquittal in Srebrenica Trial

In closing arguments at former police special forces member Milan Bogdanovic’s trial, the defence urged the court to acquit the defendant of the forced displacement, unlawful detention and forced disappearances of Bosniaks from Srebrenica in 1995.

Milan Bogdanovic’s defence on Monday urged the Bosnian state court in Sarajevo to acquit the defendant, arguing that none of the 45 prosecution witnesses had proved that he was guilty of the forced displacement, unlawful detention and forced disappearances of Bosniaks from Srebrenica in July 1995.

Defence lawyer Petko Pavlovic said that none of the witnesses confirmed that the Sixth Company of the Special Police Unit in Zvornik, which Bogdanovic commanded, took Bosniaks who surrendered away.

Pavlovic also argued that no witness said that members of the Sixth Company enabled others to kill more than 150 captives at a warehouse in the village of Konjevic Polje, or participated in driving away of the bodies.

“The prosecution claims that the majority of Muslims [from Srebrenica] surrendered to members of the Sixth Company. Even if this was true, it would not be a punishable act. But it is not true. It has neither been confirmed by witnesses nor material evidence,” Pavlovic said.

He also argued that the second count in the indictment on which Bogdanovic is standing trial, this time in his capacity as commander of the police station in the town of Skelani, had not been proven.

Bogdanovic is accused of ordering the arrests of a total of seven Bosniak civilians who then went missing without trace.

Pavlovic said that Bogdanovic’s deputy Milun Perendic testified that the defendant was not at the police station when the first two civilians were taken, because he had a few days off.

He added that witnesses confirmed that the other Bosniaks were handed over to the military.